‘Sesame Street’ strolls down memory lane

Dispatch

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian educational channel Futura has announced an accord with Sesame Workshop to produce a local version of kids’ series “Sesame Street” after nearly 30 years off air here.

Work on 52 episodes will begin early next year and skein should bow in the second half of the year. The budget, including production, licensing and promotion costs, is about $2 million. Futura raised the funds from private sponsors.

“Sesame Street” aired in Brazil between 1972 and 1974. Since then, there have been several failed attempts by local nets to revive it.

“We managed to show Sesame Workshop the importance of our educational and social work. We are both non-profit organizations — it’s a perfect match,” says Futura’s head of international relations Paula Taborda.

Futura will hire a local production company to make the series, under the supervision of Sesame Workshop. About 40% of each 30-minute episode will be made in Brazil, including an original soundtrack and sketches with Big Bird, Ernie, Elmo and a new, Brazilian, female character.